Forming mechanism



Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITE GUSTAVE ADOLPH GROS, 0F RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FORMING MECHANISM.

Application led Ang-ust 27, 1,923. Serial No. 659,528.

This application relates to a forming mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism for forming articlesby applying pressure thereto.

An object Aof the present invention is to simplify and improve .a mechanism for forming articles.

Another object is to selectively heat or cool a material receptacle by heating or cooling a member incorporated in a 1press for forming the-material into a'n artic e.

Anotherobject is to selectively heat or cool material in'a mold while in a. forming mechanism through a common means associated with the forming mechanism and having a surface shaped to embrace the nonplaniform exterior surface of the mold.

An apparatus m'ade in accordance' with the invention may comprise a molding press, a mold for an article, and members designed to embrace the molds for heating or cooling them while in the press.

These and other features of the invention not specifically mentioned will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. `1 shows a side elevation of a press incorporating the present invention,

Fig. 2-shows an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of an article formed by the machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a hydraulic press of a well known type may comprise the usualbase, uprights, head, a ram and across head fastened to the ram and slidablyI mounted upon the uprights. The central part of the crosshead acts as ya. seat for-channeled support members 18 and two projections 19 from the crosshead may be used as tables upon which to prepare molds. Upon members 18 is affixed, by means of bolts 24 and clamps 26, a block 27 in which are interconnected passages 28 which serve to convey either a heating or a cooling medium throughout the block. The 4'upper surface of this block is of a shapev to conform to'thato'fthe lower portions 149 of molds as shown in Fig. l2. To the'underside of the head of the press may be alixed,

by. means ofbolts 33 and clamps '34, a second f block 36 having passages therein similar to those of the lower block to provide for the introduction of either a heating or a cooling medium, but the lower portion of this block "is of a shape to conform to that of the upper as shown at 43, in .the pipes which are con-A nected to the movable block 27, to permit the movement of this block when the press is operated. By providing a twoway valve 75 associated with conduits 76 and 77 leadying to sources Aof suitable heat-.ing and cooling media the blocks either may be heated or cooled as desired.

Separable molds are employed in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the lower portions 490i which may ride in an under-cut track 52, and this track may'extend out on to the tables l19 to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of the molds and to vhold the lower portion of the mold to the table when the vcover member 51 is .being removed. The-molds may be of metal, and although those illustrated in the drawings` are designed for the purpose of molding mouthpieces for tele hone transmitters, such as that shown in Fig. 3, from a substance such as a rubber or othermoldable composition, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not. limited to the' manufacture of such articles. Members 54, which shape the interior ofthe article to be molded, are secured to the upper portions of the molds by means of screws 53, these members having a vertical section of the shape shown in Fig. 2, and a circular horizontal section. In the base member 49 are firmly secured annular members 56 and 57 which shape the exterior of the article and are made separately from the mold proper in order'to facilitate the machining thereof. Members 58 are also pressed firmly into place in holes drilled in the molds to serve as supports for the member 59 which forms the bottom 'of' the article being molded.

Keys 61 are Secured to the mold at intervals y about the base of each die to form vacuum m5 in the' mold, and when the 'lo ring is incorporated within the molded article and acts to support and strengthen it. Pins 64 are firmly set into the upper die as shown to form perforations in the article being molded, the perforations being for the purpose of facilitating the passage of sound waves through this member onto the diaphragm of the telephone transmitter with which it is to be used. .The edges of the` removed, and the ram 16 lowered to open the press. A predetermined quantity of moldable material is placed in each compartment of the lower portion et' the mold, the upper portion'l is put into place and the molds are slipped into the press between ,the jacketed blocks 27 and 3G. The lever 47 is now operated to introduce a medium under pressure into the. cylinder llt to raise the ram 16, which causes a vrelative movement of the molds between the blocks27 and 36 to compress the moldable. material therein. Valve 75 may now be operated to introduce steam or other medium of the reqiired temperature from a source (not s own) through the conduit 76 into the passages 28 in the blocks 27 and 36 to heat them and the molds iii-contact therewith. After the interval required for treating the molding compound has elapsed, the Valve 7 5 may be actuated, if desired, to disconnect the blocks 27 and 3G from the steam conduit 76 and connect them with the conduit 77, thus introducing a cooling medium, for instance, water from a source (not shown) into the passages of the blocks to cool the molded articles.l After the required cooling interval, the lever 47 is Operated, to exhaust the ressure medium from the cylinder 14 to ower the ram and o en the press, and the molds withdrawn. over member 51 may then be removed and the molded articles lifted from the molds. After removing the threading dies and the surrounding ring formed by the material forced into the overflow chamber during moldingand buin the edge from which this ring was remove the article is ready for use.

What is claimed is:

l. In a mechanism for forming articles, a combined heating and cooling means having a guideway, a receptacle for material and adapted to slidably engage the guide- Leonora a relative movement of the first andl second l means to compress the material in the receptacle into an article.

3. ln a mechanism for forming articles, a combined heating and cooling means having a guideway, a receptacle for material and adapt-ed to slidably engage the guideway, and a hydraulicl press carrying themeans and operative to exert pressure on the material in the receptacle.

4. In a mechanism for forming articles, a combined heating and cooling means having a depression therein, a receptacle for material having anexterior conforming to the shape of the depression, means associated with the first-mentioned means to cause a relative movement ot portions thereof to `compress the material in the receptacle into an article, and means in said depression for permitting the movement of said receptacle.

5. ln a mechanism for forming articles, a combined heating and cooling means having a plurality of guideways therein, a plura ity of 'receptacles having depressions therein of the sha e of the article to be formed and adapte to slidably engage the guideways, and means for causin a relative movement of portions of the hist-mentioned-means to compress the material in the receptacle into'an article. i

6. lln a mechanism; for forming articles, a plurality of molds for containing material, a combined heating and cooling means common `to the molds and having depressions therein conforming to thev exterior shape thereof, and means associated `therewith to cause a movement thereof to form material inthe molds into articles.

7. lln a mechanism `for-'forming articles, a lurality7 of molds, each having a plurality o formed cavities therein for material, combined heating and cooling 'means common to the molds and having cavities therein con-A forming to the shape thereof, and means associated with the first-mentioned means to cause a movement thereof to vform the material in the cavities `into articles.

' 8. ln a mechanism for forming articles, a plurality of molds for containing material, combinedu heating and cooling'means common to the molds and having cavities therein conforming to the exterior shape thereof, means associated therewith to cause a relative movement ofy portions thereof to form the material in the molds into articles, means for alternately su plying heating and cooling media to the rst-mentioned me, and

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- guides located in said cavities to allow sepacooling means.

9. In a mechanism for forming artlcles,

ration of said molds from said heating and a plurality of molds, each having a plurality of formed cavities therein for containing material, combined heating and cooling means common to the molds and having cavities therein conforming to thev exterior shape of the molds, means associated therewith to cause a relative movement of portions thereof to form the material in the molds into articles, means for .selectively supplying the lirstmentioned means with heating and cooling media, and guides located in said cavities along which said molds are moved horizontally.

. In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of August A. D., 1923.

GUsTAvE ADoLrH GRos. 

